Mums in Tech ft. Emma Millington

As part of the ‘Mums in Tech’ series, MotherBoard caught up with Emma Millington, CEO of Modular Digital.

The purpose of our ‘MotherBoard’ content series is to highlight incredible working mums within tech & data, as well as individuals and businesses that are supportive and progressive within their approach to creating more inclusive tech & data teams for women.

Firstly, can you please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your current role?

Hi there, my name is Emma Millington and I am CEO at Modular, a digital agency that specialises in helping marketing teams get the most out of their websites and apps. We build Human First technology, underpinned with human friendly content.

My role is rather diverse and covers operational and strategic elements – basically everything the creatives do not want to do : ) but also it is about building relationships and delivering amazing customer service.

I am constantly reviewing our communications, processes and products. Reaching out to customers and potential customers to learn more about what they need, taking those crucial insights to improve our services and meet their needs.

Strategically, looking at how Modular can evolve and grow and develop.

If you could sum up what it’s like being a working mum in tech in one sentence, what would it be?

Mums working in tech are pioneers in a brave new world.

How do you find the balance between your career and motherhood?

In all honesty it is hard. In the early days, I really struggled with working reduced hours. I was an older Mum and had a lot of work years under my belt. I was used to using my brain all day and really clocking up the hours. I was used to just being in work mode.

The early days of motherhood were wild and constantly changing. Childcare needs shifted and changed a lot, and only really settled once we hit the school years.

Shifting into Mum-hood meant tapping into a different part of me. A less cerebral, more emotional, physical and in the moment, me. I had to shift from spending a lot of time in my head to getting stuck in the moment and switching energies.

I could only do this by reducing my work energy and upping my Mum energy.

I feel it is only now we have a few years of school under our belts that balance has been achieved. After a few years, I finally realised and accepted that my working day finishes at 4pm (and not 7pm). I made a decision to prioritise being home for the end of the school day and being present 100% when I am in Mum mode.

I am not sure I will ever have a true balance between work and home, but I feel I have achieved a place of peace where I am content with the energies I am putting into both.

What has been your greatest challenge as a working mother in tech?

As a mother working in tech, my greatest challenge has been accepting and being proud of the fact I have two jobs. Both are awesome. Both are rewarding. Both make me who I am.

“As a mother working in tech, my greatest challenge has been accepting and being proud of the fact I have two jobs. Both are awesome. Both are rewarding. Both make me who I am. ”

What skills have you developed as a mother that have helped your work life?

I’ve learnt a lot about “regulation” , “communication” and “productivity” and each of those has certainly overlapped into my work life.

Parenting is a bit like decoding a puzzle – you learn to dial in and tune in to the other person’s ecosystem to decipher what they need.

Being a Mum also rekindled my playful side and I have had huge joy embracing activities and experiences just for fun. Having a go at things and just not caring if I am good at them or not has been so freeing and amazing fun.

Tapping into that creative space also helps with how I approach projects and problem-solving, but it is also a way of generating energy and productivity.

I also found talking about my role and work with my son (a vastly curious boy who wants to pull apart and examine everything in huge detail), explaining why I work, what I enjoy about it and how I am both Mum and CEO and how both those things come into play together, helped crystallise and shore up my own internal dialogue and compass around the duality of my roles.

Overall as a Mum you have to take control of situations, be the centre of balance, communicate, answer questions, solve problems, lead the way, be agile, be creative, and respond to shifting demands at pace – we work in tech…any of this sounding familiar : )

When you were returning to work, what one thing helped you / would have helped you the most?

Having more support and more women around me to help out and talk about how to balance the craziness of motherhood and a career.

I was severely lacking in female voices and that made it a rather lonely time.

In response, I have started to build a network of women around me who I can talk to and learn from and share experiences with but also to seek out women who may also want support. Extending opportunities to have a chat, make connections, ask others what they may need… build an ecosystem of support.

“Stay focused on your goals. Don’t be scared to explore what “balance” looks like to you and do it your way. Find your voice as a Mum (it took me some time) and don’t be scared to use it. Above all, always, always remember you are doing an absolutely bloody brilliant job. ”

What do you feel should be the top priority for employers who want to support working mothers better?

Working mothers need employers who first and foremost get the load we are carrying.

We are resilient as hell but that does not mean we don’t need support. Employers need to check in, ask us how we are doing, listen, create space for us to have our children, be flexible and adaptable and value the worth we bring to the table.

Parenting has many phases. The first few years are so different to the primary school years or the exam years.

On a practical level, childcare often causes the most grief – nursery fees and covering the school holidays.

Annual leave allowances just don’t work. The sums just don’t add up. We need employers to be brave and look at breaking some of the structures in order to build something better.

Any final words of advice for other mothers in the Tech Industry?

Build a network of women around you and if there aren’t any/many in your company/sector – look to different circles for those connections. Focus on your energy and do what you can to keep feeding that (which can be super hard in the early days of Mumhood). Stay focused on your goals. Don’t be scared to explore what “balance” looks like to you and do it your way. Find your voice as a Mum (it took me some time) and don’t be scared to use it.

Above all, always, always remember you are doing an absolutely bloody brilliant job.

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